One benefit is the ability to modify the care the newborn receives due to the continuous pulse oximetry monitoring (Eichenwald, Perelman, & Pennsylvania, n.d.). The continuous pulse oximetry readings of the newborn will alert the RN of any circulatory issues that need immediate attention. Another benefit of performing continuous pulse oximetry on newborns is the early detection of congenital heart defects (Tin & Lal, 2015). The continuous monitoring allows the early detection of pulmonary atresia, tetralogy of Fallot, tricuspid atresia, anomalous pulmonary venous return (CDC, 2012). The early detection of the critical cardiac issues ensures early intervention and treatment. However, performing continuous pulse oximetry on a newborn does have its limitations. The limitations include inaccuracy of readings due to the sensor being too small. The sensor pad being too small causes inaccuracy of readings due to improper contact on the vascular surface. Ambient light in the room is another disadvantage. Ambient light in the room can distort the reading of the pulse oximeter (Pillitteri & Pillitteri, 2013). Therefore, to guarantee the accuracy of the reading the newborn need to be covered to prevent the distortion of the sensor light (Pillitteri & Pillitteri, …show more content…
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